Item - 2024.EX18.7
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on November 13 and 14, 2024 with amendments.
- This item was considered by the Executive Committee on November 5, 2024 and adopted without amendment. It will be considered by City Council on November 13 and 14, 2024.
- See also By-law 1261-2024
EX18.7 - CaféTO Business Improvement Area (BIA) Pilot Programs Update and Toronto Municipal Code Amendments for 2025
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on November 13 and 14, 2024, adopted the following:
1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays, generally as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture, as amended by Parts 2 to 6 below.
2. City Council amend the proposed amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays as set out in Attachment 1 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture by deleting Part 1:
Part to be deleted:
1. Amend the definition for “Flankage Café” in section 742-1.1 by deleting the phrase “and is located on a local road that is adjacent to a corner business unit.” and replacing it with the phrase “and is located adjacent to a corner business unit on either a local road or collector road.”
3. City Council amend Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays by deleting the definition of "Flankage Café"
4. City Council amend the proposed amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays as set out in Attachment 1 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture by deleting Part 4:
Part to be deleted:
4. Amend section 742-2.3 as follow:
a. Replace the title ‘Notice, permit areas on local roads’ with ‘Notice, permit
areas on local roads or collector roads’.
b. Amend section 742-2.3 A (5) by replacing ’60-metre radius’ with ’30-metre
radius’.
5. City Council amend section 742-2.3 of Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays so that it reads as follows:
Section 742-2.3. Notice, permit areas on "residential flankages".
A. upon receipt of a complete application for a permit area to be located on a residential flankage, the Executive Director or General Manager will notify the following people or entities:
1. the Applicant;
2. the local Ward Councillor;
3. the local Business Improvement Area, if any;
4. any resident associations registered with the City Clerk that includes the proposed café location within its area of representation; and
5. all property owners and occupants on the primarily residential street where the permit area is located within 30 metres of the proposed café location.
B. all applicants for a permit area to be located on a residential flankage must display a notice of the application in a form, size and location satisfactory to the Executive Director on the associated establishment for no less than 21 days commencing on a date specified by the Executive Director.
6. City Council amend section 742-3.2A(2) of Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays so that it reads as follows:
Section 742-3.2. Refusal.
A. The Executive Director or General Manager shall refuse an application for a sidewalk café, public parklet, and/or marketing display if:
(2) in the case of an application for a permit area on a residential flankage, the City receives multiple objections to the application from members of the public during the 21-day period of public notice.
7. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C, Schedule 2, and Schedule 12, by removing the application fee for public parklets, and amending the permit fees for curb lane cafés and transfer fees for sidewalk cafés in accordance with Attachment 3 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.
8. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, as outlined in Attachment 4 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.
9. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, as outlined in Attachment 2 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.
10. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or By-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture in order to give effect to Parts 1 to 9 above.
11. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to continue to pilot the expanded use of public parklets for the 2025 CaféTO season, with such guidelines conforming to all requirements in Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays, and considering the following as permitted uses in addition to public space:
a. promotion of Business Improvement Area member businesses; and
b. display of and sale of non-food products.
12. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back on the feasibility of the expanded use of Marketing Displays on curb lanes.
13. City Council direct that the amendment to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, in Part 7 above, retroactively be deemed to have come into effect on of January 1, 2024.
14. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to include necessary resources, including the 15 positions required for sustaining the CaféTO program, for consideration as part of the 2025 Operating Budget submission for Transportation Services.
15. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to explore new supports and opportunities on City Property and Private Strip Mall Plazas for restaurants in those areas of the city where there is currently a low concentration of outdoor patios including CafeTO patios with a report back to the appropriate committee by the end of the second quarter of 2025.
Public Notice Given
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249669.pdf
Attachment 1 - Proposed Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249670.pdf
Attachment 2 - Proposed Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249691.pdf
Attachment 3 - Proposed Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249692.pdf
Attachment 4 - Proposed Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249693.pdf
Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249791.pdf
Communications (Committee)
(November 3, 2024) E-mail from John Kiru, Executive Director, Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-184339.pdf
Communications (City Council)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/cc/comm/communicationfile-184749.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council amend the proposed amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays as set out in Attachment 1 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture by deleting Part 1:
Part to be deleted:
1. Amend the definition for “Flankage Café” in section 742-1.1 by deleting the phrase “and is located on a local road that is adjacent to a corner business unit.” and replacing it with the phrase “and is located adjacent to a corner business unit on either a local road or collector road.”
2. City Council amend Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays by deleting the definition of "Flankage Café"
3. City Council amend the proposed amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays as set out in Attachment 1 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture by deleting Part 4:
Part to be deleted:
4. Amend section 742-2.3 as follow:
a. Replace the title ‘Notice, permit areas on local roads’ with ‘Notice, permit
areas on local roads or collector roads’.
b. Amend section 742-2.3 A (5) by replacing ’60-metre radius’ with ’30-metre
radius’.
4. City Council amend section 742-2.3 of Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays so that it reads as follows:
Section 742-2.3. Notice, permit areas on "residential flankages".
A. upon receipt of a complete application for a permit area to be located on a residential flankage, the Executive Director or General Manager will notify the following people or entities:
1. the Applicant;
2. the local Ward Councillor;
3. the local Business Improvement Area, if any;
4. any resident associations registered with the City Clerk that includes the proposed café location within its area of representation; and
5. all property owners and occupants on the primarily residential street where the permit area is located within 30 metres of the proposed café location.
B. all applicants for a permit area to be located on a residential flankage must display a notice of the application in a form, size and location satisfactory to the Executive Director on the associated establishment for no less than 21 days commencing on a date specified by the Executive Director.
5. City Council amend section 742-3.2A(2) of Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays so that it reads as follows:
Section 742-3.2. Refusal.
A. The Executive Director or General Manager shall refuse an application for a sidewalk café, public parklet, and/or marketing display if:
(2) in the case of an application for a permit area on a residential flankage, the City receives multiple objections to the application from members of the public during the 21-day period of public notice.
That:
1. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Infrastructure Services, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to explore new supports and opportunities on City Property and Private Strip Mall Plazas for restaurants in those areas of the city where there is currently a low concentration of outdoor patios including CafeTO patios with a report back to the appropriate committee by the end of the second quarter of 2025.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Nov-13-2024 6:18 PM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - EX18.7 - Cheng - motion 2 |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 21 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Mike Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Stephen Holyday, Parthi Kandavel, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson |
Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
Total members that were Absent: 5 | Members that were absent are Alejandra Bravo, Shelley Carroll, Olivia Chow, Ausma Malik, Chris Moise |
Vote (Adopt Item as Amended) Nov-13-2024 6:19 PM
Result: Carried | Majority Required - EX18.7 - Adopt the item as amended |
---|---|
Total members that voted Yes: 20 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Brad Bradford, Jon Burnside, Lily Cheng, Rachel Chernos Lin, Mike Colle, Vincent Crisanti, Paula Fletcher, Parthi Kandavel, Nick Mantas, Josh Matlow, Jennifer McKelvie, Amber Morley, Jamaal Myers, Frances Nunziata (Chair), James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Dianne Saxe, Michael Thompson |
Total members that voted No: 1 | Members that voted No are Stephen Holyday |
Total members that were Absent: 5 | Members that were absent are Alejandra Bravo, Shelley Carroll, Olivia Chow, Ausma Malik, Chris Moise |
EX18.7 - CaféTO Business Improvement Area (BIA) Pilot Programs Update and Toronto Municipal Code Amendments for 2025
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Adopted
- Wards:
- All
Public Notice Given
Committee Recommendations
The Executive Committee recommends that:
1. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays, generally as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.
2. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, Appendix C, Schedule 2, and Schedule 12, by removing the application fee for public parklets, and amending the permit fees for curb lane cafés and transfer fees for sidewalk cafés in accordance with Attachment 3 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.
3. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, as outlined in Attachment 4 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.
4. City Council amend City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures, as outlined in Attachment 2 to the report (October 22, 2024) from the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture.
5. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary Bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or By-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor, in consultation with the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture in order to give effect to Recommendations 1 to 4 above.
6. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to continue to pilot the expanded use of public parklets for the 2025 CaféTO season, with such guidelines conforming to all requirements in Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays, and considering the following as permitted uses in addition to public space:
a. promotion of Business Improvement Area member businesses; and
b. display of and sale of non-food products.
7. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services and the General Manager, Economic Development and Culture to report back on the feasibility of the expanded use of Marketing Displays on curb lanes.
8. City Council direct that the amendment to City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges, in Recommendation 2 above, retroactively be deemed to have come into effect on of January 1, 2024.
9. City Council direct the General Manager, Transportation Services to include necessary resources, including the 15 positions required for sustaining the CaféTO program, for consideration as part of the 2025 Operating Budget submission for Transportation Services.
Origin
Summary
The CaféTO program supports Toronto's neighbourhoods and local economy by providing expanded outdoor dining opportunities for bars and restaurants. Since 2020, the program has continued to improve and evolve with each outdoor dining season (May 1 to October 15) based on a commitment to the city's economic recovery and balancing the diverse needs of Toronto's communities. While the City has expanded outdoor dining programs to include permitting programs for sidewalk and curb lane cafes, hardscaped surfaced parks, and through zoning provisions on private property, the focus of this report will be curb lane cafés located on the right-of-way, which is led by Transportation Services with support from Economic Development and Culture.
Since the CaféTO program became permanent in 2023, staff have implemented the Council-approved BIA Curb Lane Pilot Program. This initiative also enhances the efficiency of program rollout by allowing Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) to design streetscape and curb lane closures that meet the unique needs of their neighbourhoods. Throughout the 2024 CaféTO season and during the implementation of the Pilot Program, staff frequently engaged BIAs, restaurant operators and industry associations for feedback. This input will be used to inform improvements for the program in 2025.
Following an evaluation of the BIA Curb Lane Pilot Program, this report recommends that the pilot program become permanent and include recommended improvements identified over the 2023 and 2024 implementation seasons. In addition, staff have developed a second pilot program to provide the opportunity for retail businesses to temporarily use public parklets within the BIAs that are part of the Curb Lane Pilot program. It is recommended that this second pilot program be extended for another year to collect additional data. The report also outlines the 2024 CaféTO Property Improvement Program and introduces the new Dining District Grant.
Furthermore, this report recommends technical updates to the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays. The recommended changes include:
-Adjusting the timeline to cancel a café permit application if permit fees have not been paid;
-Amending the community notification process for flankage café applications;
-Allowing permit holders on King Street East and West, between Jarvis Street and Bathurst Street, the option to apply for and operate curb lane cafes seasonally, from both October 16 to April 30, and from May 1 to October 15.
Additional technical and wording amendments to Chapter 742 and 937, Temporary Closing of Highways, Chapter 27, Council procedures and Chapter 441, Fees and Charges are also proposed.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249669.pdf
Attachment 1 - Proposed Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 742, Sidewalk Cafés, Parklets and Marketing Displays
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249670.pdf
Attachment 2 - Proposed Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 27, Council Procedures
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249691.pdf
Attachment 3 - Proposed Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 441, Fees and Charges
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249692.pdf
Attachment 4 - Proposed Amendments to Municipal Code Chapter 937, Temporary Closing of Highways
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249693.pdf
Public Notice
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/bgrd/backgroundfile-249791.pdf
Communications
(November 3, 2024) E-mail from John Kiru, Executive Director, Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (EX.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2024/ex/comm/communicationfile-184339.pdf
Speakers
John Kiru, Executive Director, Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas
Michael Harker, Executive Director, Community Researchers
Stella Kargiannakis